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Preventing Cumulative Trauma

Injuries
 Introduction
We are all familiar with the traumatic injury resulting
from a single stress to a particular body part. These
injuries, such as broken bones, cuts, and bruises, occur
instantly. Cumulative injuries, on the other hand, result
from repeated stress to a part of the body. Symptoms of
such injuriesdiscomfort, numbness, loss of strength,
and so ontake a period of time to develop and may go
unrecognized or may thought to be something else, such
as arthritis. Low back strain, tendonitis, and carpal
tunnel syndrome, which results from a compressed
nerve in the hand, are common cumulative stress
injuries.
 When Cumulative trauma can occur

Cumulative trauma injuries often occur when

A motion is repeated on the job perhaps
thousands of times a day.
Excessive force must be used to complete a task.
The posture required to do the work is an
unnatural one.
The environment is extreme or inappropriate in
some waysuch as very cold or poorly lighted.
Ways to Prevent Cumulative Trauma Injuries

Be aware of the factors that contribute to cumulative stress and reduce

them to the extent that you can by yourself. When you cant make an
improvement in your task that will save you from working in the wrong
way, let your supervisor know that you believe there may be a problem.
In analyzing the hazards of your own job, look first at how you use your
hand and wrist. While the hand is capable of a wide range of motions,
performing work that requires some force with a bent wrist can led the
tendons in the hand to swell. When the tendons enlarge, the nerves in
the hand compress. Ultimately, this will cause carpal tunnel syndromea
disorder that causes pain, numbness, and an inability to perform many
tasks with the hand. When you notice that your wrist is bent in working,
try to substitute a neutral motion of the wrist, keeping the wrist in an
outstretched or straight position that places less force on nerves and
tendons.
 The elbow is another body part frequently subject to cumulative
trauma. Stressful positions of the elbow include rotation of the
forearm when the wrist is bent and leaning on your elbows,
particularly where the surface is hard. Be aware of such postures
and try to do the task in a less stressful way. In the event you
must lean on your elbows, put padding on the surface first.
The shoulder and neck are often stressed in the course of the
workplace routine. Working with arms above your head,
working with your elbows above the shoulder level, repeatedly
reaching behind your body, working with hunched shoulders,
working with a bent neck, or carrying heavy loads on one side of
the body can cause repetitive stress injuries to the shoulder and
neck.
 Notice!!!
Low back pain, too, may be caused by cumulative trauma injury.
Working postures that may hurt the back include:
Twisting while lifting instead of keeping your back straight and
moving your feet
Sitting for long periods of time without good back support
Standing for long periods of time without a break
Lifting heavy objects from above the shoulders or below the
knees.
Be aware of how you are working and the effect that posture and
force have on your body. Working in a way that reduces stress will
result in fewer cumulative trauma injuries.
(Information based on Ergonomics, a workbook published by
tna Life & Casualty, Hartford, Conn.)